Local dog photographer shares their Tails of Halifax

Cassie Latta-Johnson’s book of local dog photography raises funds for non-profit charity Elderdog and pre-orders will be available at a reduced price until November 7

CITYnews\ Steve Gow

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A Dartmouth-based dog photographer is about to release their first coffee table book featuring some the cutest local canines in front of HRM’s most iconic landmarks.

Owner of Wet Nose Images, Cassie Latta-Johnson has spent the bulk of their summer as paparazzi to more than 50 pups as they put together the photographs that make up Tails of Halifax — a fundraising project that helped raise more than $3,000 for registered charity Elderdog.

“Some of the people participating in the book had been past clients of mine (so) they thought of this as an opportunity to be in the book and also to be able to donate to Elderdog,” says Latta-Johnson. “Other people maybe hadn’t heard of me but they knew of Elderdog and wanted to be a part of this.”

Latta-Johnson note participants were invited to purchase a package which included a reduced session fee to cover expenses. From that revenue, they donated half of the earnings to the community-based organization dedicated to the well-being of older people and older dogs.

“That was the big fundraising part of it,” adds Latta-Johnson. “And I was able to donate $3,750 this year due to those sessions.”

While the book will be officially launched in December, Latta-Johnson has already sold more than 75 copies through pre-order sales period (which ends November 7) with a reduced cover price.

Those who do pre-order Tails of Halifax will be invited to the official launch party in early December, where people can save on mailing costs by picking up the book as well as celebrate the release with the author.

“I’m going to have it at a dog-friendly location,” adds Latta-Johnson who, at the time of writing, was still finalizing details that will be posted on the Wet Nose Images website when confirmed. “(People) can also bring their dogs with them (and) the dogs can meet each other, you can see the other dogs that are in the book — it’ll be so much fun.”

Latta-Johnson founded Wet Nose Images at the end of 2014 and it has since become a booming business — even in spite of intermittent COVID-19 restrictions over the past year.  In fact, Latta-Johnson says they were able to finally quit a second job and focus full-time on what they describe as “adventurous dog photography”.

“I really want people to feel this is a fun adventure, a really unique experience that they get to have with their dog,” says Latta-Johnson of what makes Wet Nose Images unique from other dog photography businesses. “It’s a way for them to make sure they’re celebrating and cherishing their dogs and this life that they’re sharing together while they’re here.”

In order to capture those natural moments, Latta-Johnson’s specialty is photographing people’s pets outdoors where both owners and dogs can feel uninhibited and unconfined in nature.

“I love being outdoors and you get such great variety in terms of where we can go and what the backdrop is going to look like,” says Latta-Johnson. “And also, a lot of dogs are happiest there so they get to run around and just sniff all the sniffs and be happy and comfortable.”

Latta-Johnson is also known for running a popular Ambassadogs Program, in which they will waive the Wet Nose Images session fee for those who register their dog as brand ambassadors on an annual basis. While this year’s program has been filled, people are invited to apply for 2022’s recruitment in February.

“It’s perfect for people who have been wanting to book a session but maybe some of the costs have been holding them back or they just feel like life is busy and they haven’t gotten around to it,” says Latta-Johnson, who in addition to offering savings on the sessions, will print courtesy portraits, offer adorable swag, a custom journal and much more.

“It’s just an opportunity to have this little club,” adds Latta-Johnson. “It’s just a really fun experience for everybody.”

For more information on Tails of Halifax or Wet Nose Images, visit the website.